Refrigerator including shelf mounting apparatus

ABSTRACT

The apparatus includes a pair of front standards and mounting means for mounting a respective one of the pair of front standards adjacent a different edge of the opening of the refrigerator. A pair of rear standards are provided with mounting means for mounting the pair of rear standards on the rear wall of the refrigerator whereby each one of the rear standards is in facing relationship to a different one of the front standards. The pair of front standards are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced rearwardly facing notches each one of which includes an upstanding lip to prevent rearward removal of the front rail of a shelf received therein. The pair of rear standards are provided with a plurality of forwardly facing slots. Each one of the slots extends rearwardly a sufficient distance to permit a shelf received therein to be spaced from the pair of front standards and each one of the slots extends forwardly a sufficient distance to retain and support a shelf when the front rail of the shelf is received in corresponding notches in the front pair of standards.

finite fates Traulsen REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING SHELF MOUNTING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Harry Traulsen, Beechhurst, NY.

[73] Assignee: 'iraulsen & C0. 11m, College Point,

[22] Filed: Oct. 25, 1972 211 App1.No.: 300,841 1 [52] U.S. C1 312/116, 312/128, 312/214, 108/110, 108/144 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 3/04 [58] Field of Search ..3l2/116, 128,351,214, 312/126; 108/106, 107, 110, 144; 211/148, 176, 90; 248/224 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 506.829 10/1893 Ohmer 108/110 2.470.765 5/1949 Dunston 108/110 701.079 5/1902 Peckham.... 248/224 UX 267.426 11/1882 Henrichs..' 312/351 X 1.851.192 3/1932 Lange 108/106 X Primary Examiner-James C; Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-S. C. Yuter v 5 7] ABSTRACT The apparatus includes a pair of front standards and mounting means for mounting a respective one of the pair of front standards adjacent a different edge of the opening of the refrigerator. A pair of rear standards are provided with mounting means for mounting the pair of rear standards on the rear wall of therefrigerator whereby each one of the rear standards is in facing relationship to a different one of the front standards. The pair of front standards are provided with-a plurality of vertically spaced rearwardly facing notches each front standards and each one of the slots extends forwardly a sufficient distance to retain and support a shelf when the front rail of the shelf is received in corresponding notches in the front pair of standards.

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PMENIEMR 19 IBM sum 0? 3 FIG. If

PATENTEDNAR 19 I974 SHEET 3 0F 3 REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING SHELF MOUNTING AIPARATUS The present invention relates generally to a refrigerator and, more particularly. pertains to a refrigerator having shelf mounting apparatus therein which facilitates easy insertion or removal of the refrigerator shelves.

Most large commercial refrigerators of the type used in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and the like usually'include shelf mounting apparatus which is extremely inconvenient and. in some cases. dangerous to use. More particularly, the shelf mounting apparatus in commercial refrigerator installations usually comprises front and rear brackets each of which are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced elongated slots. When it is desired to mount a refrigerator shelf at a particular height, a shelf supporting clip is inserted into the slots corresponding to the desired height. Usually, this operation in and of itself is difficult since the clips must be inserted with pliers thereby requiring the serviceman to enter the refrigerator and to have unobstructed access to the brackets.

In a like manner, clips are also inserted into the front brackets. However, since the slots in the brackets are relatively close to each other it is difficult to select the slots in the front brackets which are aligned with the selected slots in the rear brackets. As aresult, the shelf may be mounted at an angle rather than being level. Thus, the Serviceman is required to remove the clips in one of the sets of the brackets (the front or the rear) and reinsert the clips into the proper slots; a time consuming and wasteful operation.

Of more importance is the fact that it has been found that the clips can fall out of the slots and'into food stored in the refrigerator. Thus, the results of such an occurrence may be disastrous.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having improved shelf mounting apparatus.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of shelf mounting apparatus for a refrigerator which permits easy installation and removal of refrigerator shelves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus which is compatible for use in existing refrigerators.

A further object of the invention resides in the novel details of construction which provide shelf mounting apparatus of the type described which contains no moving parts and therefore eliminates the dangerous possibility of elements falling into or contaminating food stored in the refrigerator.

Accordingly, shelf mounting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is for a refrigerator of the type having at least a front opening and a rear wall and adapted to receive shelves and comprises a pair of front standards and a pair of rear standards. First mounting means mounts a respective one of the pair of front standards adjacent a difierent edge of the front opening and second mounting means mounts a respective one of the pair of rear standards in the refrigerator in facing relationship to a different one of the pair of front standards. Each one of the pair of front standards is provided with a plurality of vertically spacedrearwardly facing notches therein. Each of the plurality of notches is provided with an upwardly exsponding rear standard of the shelf mounting apparatus tending lip to prevent members received in the notch from moving rearwardly out of the notch. Similarly, a plurality of vertically spaced forwardly facing slots are provided in the pair of rear standards. Each one of the slots in the rear standards extends rearwardly a sufiicient distance to permit a shelf received in the slots to be spaced from the front pair of standards when the shelf is moved to the rear of the slot and extends forwardly a sufficient distance to retain and support a shelf when the shelf is received in corresponding notches in the pair of front standards. Thus, a shelf is easily inserted into the refrigerator by first placing the rear portion of the shelf into the slots and moving the shelf backward into the slots so that the front portion of the shelf may be swung downwardly into facing relationship to the corresponding notches in the front standards whereupon the shelf is moved forwardly to engage the notches so that the shelf is removably fixed in place.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a refrigerator, with parts broken away in the interests of clarity, showing refrigerator shelf I mounting apparatus constructed according to the "present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away of a rear standard comprising the shelf mounting apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top'plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of the left-hand front standard of the shelf mounting apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is'a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a detail view, with parts broken away, of a portion of the right-hand front standard and the correillustrating the insertion and removal of a shelf thereon; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of a modified embodiment of shelf mounting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Accordingly, a refrigerator having shelf mounting apparatus constructed according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 and includes a bottom wall 12, a top wall 14, opposed side walls 16 and 18, a rear wall 19, and a front wall 20. Provided in the front wall 20 is a door opening 22. In the interests of clarity, the door of the refrigerator is not shown. The bottom wall 12 of the refrigerator is supported by legs 24. The refrigerator 10, which is a so-called commercial refrigerator, receives shelf mounting apparatus constructed according to the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral 26 therein.

The shelf mounting apparatus comprises a pair of rear vertical standards 28 and 30 which are mounted on the rear wall 19. Additionally, a front pair of vertical standards designated generally by the reference numerals 32 and 34 are mounted on the front wall 20 of the refrigerator. Each one of the standards 32 and 34 is mounted on either side of the door opening 22 as shown in FIG. 1. The standard 32 is in facing relation- The rear standard 30 is shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4 1 and includes a forwardly extending member or leg 36 and a longitudinally extending member or leg 38. The leg 38 is bent to form a raised center section 40 having means therein for mounting the standard or the rear wall of the refrigerator. More particularly, the center section is provided with vertically spaced apertures 42 having reduced dimension laterally extending ears 44 extending above and below the aperture 42. When the rear standard is mounted on the rear wall of the refrigerator. screws 46 are screwed partially into the rear wall. The standard 30 is then moved into position whereby the screw heads extend through the apertures 42. The cars, 44 permit the standard to be moved upwardly or downwardly into correct position as noted herein below. Thereafter, the screws 46 are tightened whereupon the heads of the screws bear upon the standard in the vicinty of the ears 44 to maintain the standard in place.

Provided in the leg 36 of the standard 30 are vertically spaced elongated slots 48. As shown in FIG. 1, the leg 36 extends forwardly in the refrigerator and the open end of the slots 48 similarly extend forwardly and are in facing relationship to the front standards 32 and 34. The standard 28 is identical in construction to the standard 30 and may be provided simply by turning the standard 30 end for end.

The left-hand front standard 32 is shown in FIGS. -7 and similarly includes a longitudinally extending member'48 and a laterally extending member 50. The longitudinally extending member 48 is bent to provide a raised center. section 52 having mounting means therein. That is. as shown in FIG. 6, the center section 52 is provided with apertures 42 and ears 44 in the same manner as the center section 40 of the standard shown in FIG. 3.

The laterally/extending member50, as shown in FIG. 5, is provided with vertically spaced notches 54. The notches 54 are provided with upstanding lips 56 which prevent lateral removal of the shelf rail received therein. as noted in detail herein below. Additionally. the rear wall 58 of the notches 54 are sloped toward the member 52 to facilitate placement of the shelf rail into the notch.

The right-hand front standard 34 is identical in construction to the standard 32 with the exception that it is the mirror image of the same. 7

In practice. the notches 54 in the standards 32 and 34 are in one-to-one correspondence with the slots 48 in the standards 28 and 30. Additionally. whenthe standards are secured 'to the refrigerator walls, the standards are moved within the limits of the ears 44 so that the slots and notches in the rear and front standards are aligned with each other so that a shelf received within corresponding notches and slots will be level. The members 50 and 48 of the standard 52 are integral with each other and the members 36 and 38 of the standard 30 are similarly integral with each other.

The refrigerator shelves. designated generally by the reference numeral 60, are conventional in construction and include a front rail 62, a rear rail 64 and opposed side rails 66 and 68 which connect the rails 62 and 64 at their ends. Longitudinally spaced rods 70 extend between the rails 62 and 64 and are connected thereto to form the surface for the shelf.

The simple insertion or removal of a shelf utilizing the shelf mounting apparatus of the present invention may best be seen in FIG. 8. Accordingly. when his desired to insert a shelf into the refrigerator the rear rail 64 is positioned in the desired aligned slots 48 in the rear standards 28 and 30. The shelf is then moved rearwardly until the rear rail 64 engages the end wall of the slot 48. A feature of the present invention is to make the end wall of the slots 48 sufficiently deep so that when the rear rail 64 is against the end wall of the slot, the front rail 62 will be spaced from the front standards 32 and 34. In other words, by moving the shelf rearwardly in the slots 48, the shelf may be swung downwardly and will clear the front standards.

when the shelf is substantially opposite the notches 54 in the front standards corresponding with (i.e., aligned with) the desired slots 48 in the rear standards. the shelf is moved forwardly so that the front rail 62 abuts the wall 58 of the notches. The shelf may then be released to permit the front rail 62 to fall behind the lip 56, as shown in FIG. 8, thereby affixing the shelf in place and preventing rearward removal of the shelf. Additionally. as shown in FIG. 8, the slots 48 are sufficiently long so that with the front rail 62 received in a notch 54, the rear rail 64 will still remain within the slot 48 so that the wall of the slot 48 both retains and supports the rear rail of the shelf.

Summarizing the above. a feature of the invention is to provide rear standards with notches that are of sufficient length to permit a shelf to be received therein so that the front rail of the shelf can be spaced from the front standards and yet when the front rail of the shelf is received within a notch in the front standards, the rear rail is still received within the slots in the rear standards.

The shelf is removed by simply reversing the above procedure. That is. the front of the shelf is lifted upwardly as the rear rail is slid out of the slot 48. The shelf may then be turned end wise to remove it from the refrigerator.

Accordingly, a refrigerator including shelf mounting apparatus has been disclosed which permits the easy and efficient insertion or removal of a shelf from the refrigerator and which eliminates the danger of separate pieces fallinginto food stored in the refrigerator.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates a modified embodiment of shelf mounting apparatus constructed according to the present invention. Thus. the apparatus of FIG. 9 includes a rear standard 128 and a front standard 132. Another rear standard and another front standard are provided but are not shown since they are the mirror images of therespective standards similarly to the rear standards 28 and 30 and the front standards 32 and 34. Additionally. the standards 128 and 132 have longitudinally extending members which include mounting means in the same manner as the rear and front standardsshown in FIGS. 1-8.

The rear standard 128 includes elongated slots 148 having a C-shape. in a similar manner. the front standard 132 includes a plurality of vertically spaced notches 154 which are similarly C-shaped. That is, in addition to the upstanding lip 156, the notches 154 are provided with a depending lip 157 to form an opening 159 which is slightly in excess of the diameter of the front rail 62 of the shelf 60. The shelf 60 is inserted into the standards 128 and 132 in the same manner as the shelf 60 is inserted into the standards 34 and 30 shown in FIG. 8. That is. as shown in the sequential drawings of FIG. 9, the rear rail 64 of the shelf is inserted into the desired slot 148 and is moved rearwardly in the slot until the front rail 62 is spaced from the front standard 132. When the front rail 62 is opposite the desired notch 154, the shelf is moved forwardly so that the front rail 62 passes through the opening 159 in the notch. The shelf may then be released to permit the front rail 62 to fall to the bottom wall of the notch. Again, it is to be noted that the slot 148 is of sufficient depth to permit the front rail to clear the front standard when the rear rail is against the rear wall of the slot and will still retain the rear rail within the slot when the front rail is received within the corresponding notch.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein it will become .obvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus for a refrigerator having at least a front opening and a rear wall and adapted to receive shelves, comprising a pair of front standards and a pair of rear standards, first mounting means for mounting a respective one of said pair of front standards adjacent a different edge of said front opening, second mounting means for mounting a respective one of said pair of rear standards in said refrigerator in facingrelationship to a different one of said pair of frontstandards, each one of said pair of front standards having a plurality of vertically spaced rearwardly facing notches therein, each of said plurality of notches having an upwardly extending lip to prevent members received in said notch from moving rearwardly out of said notch, and a plurality of vertically spaced forwardly facing slots in said pair of rear standards, each one of said slots extending rearwardly a sufficient distance to permit a shelf received therein to be spaced from said pair of front standards when the shelf is moved to the rear of the slot, and extending forwardly a sufficient distance to retain and support a shelf when the shelf is received in corresponding notches in said pair of front standards.

2. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said plurality of slots in said pair of rear' standards are in one-to-one correspondance with said plurality of notches in said pair of front standards.

3. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 2, in which said first and second mounting means comprises a plurality of apertures in said respective standards having reduced diameter ears extending therefrom whereby said standards are adapted to receive the heads of screws through said apertures and said standards may be moved to receive the heads of the screws in overlying relationship to said ears, whereby said standards may be moved to align respective ones of said notches with corresponding ones of said slots.

4. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said notches in said front pair of standards are C-shaped.

5. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said slots in said pair of rear standards are substantially C-shaped.

6. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which each one of said pair of front standards comprises a longitudinally extending leg having said mounting means therein. anda rearwardly extending member integral with said longitudinally extending member and having said plurality of notches therein.

7. Refrigerator shelf mounting means as in claim 1, in which each one of said pair of rear standards comprises a longitudinally extending leg having said mounting means therein, and a forwardly extending member having said slots therein.

8. A refrigerator comprising a housing having a front wall, a rear wall and opposed side walls, at least a first shelf mounting standard extending outwardly from one of said walls, at least a second standard extending outwardly from another wall opposite said one wall, said first standard having a plurality of vertically spaced notches opening toward said second standard and each notch having an upstanding lip to prevent lateral removal of a member received in said notch, said second standard having a plurality of vertically spaced slots therein opening toward said first standard, and at least a shelf adapted to be supported by said first and second standards, said slots being sized and positioned to receive said shelf therein and permit movement of said shelf a sufficient distance to space said shelf from said first standard, and to support said shelf when said shelf is received in a notch in said first standard.

9. A refrigerator as in claim 8, in which said notches are in one to one correspondence with said slots, and said first and second standards comprise mounting means for movably mounting the respective standards on the respective walls to permit alignment of said notches and slots.

10. A refrigerator as in claim 8, in which a spaced pair of first standards are mounted on said one wall and a spaced pair of second standards are mounted on said second wall, each one of said first pair of standards is in facing relationship to a different one of said second pair of standards.

11. A refrigerator as in claim 9, in which said notches are C-shaped.

12. A refrigerator as in claim 9, in which said slots are C-shaped.

13. A refrigerator as in claim 9, in which said shelf comprises a circumferential rail, and aplurality of rods extending between and connected to opposed portions of said rail, said first and second pairs of standards receiving opposite sides of said rail to support said shelf.

second pair of standards extend forwardly.

I l I! l 

1. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus for a refrigerator having at least a front opening and a rear wall and adapted to receive shelves, comprising a pair of front standards and a pair of rear standards, first mounting means for mounting a respective one of said pair of front standards adjacent a different edge of said front opening, second mounting means for mounting a respective one of said pair of rear standards in said refrigerator in facing relationship to a different one of said pair of front standards, each one of said pair of front standards having a plurality of vertically spaced rearwardly facing notches therein, each of said plurality of notches having an upwardly extending lip to prevent members received in said notch from moving rearwardly out of said notch, and a plurality of vertically spaced forwardly facing slots in said pair of rear standards, each one of said slots extending rearwardly a sufficient distance to permit a shelf received therein to be spaced from said pair of front standards when the shelf is moved to the rear of the slot, and extending forwardly a sufficient distance to retain and support a shelf when the shelf is received in corresponding notches in said pair of front standards.
 2. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said plurality of slots in said pair of rear standards are in one-to-one correspondance with said plurality of notches in said pair of front standards.
 3. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 2, in which said first and second mounting means comprises a plurality of apertures in said respective standards having reduced diameter ears extending therefrom whereby said standards are adapted to receive the heads of screws through said apertures and said standards may be moved to receive the heads of the screws in overlying relationship to said ears, whereby said standards may be moved to align respective ones of said notches with corresponding ones of said slots.
 4. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said notches in said front pair of standards are C-shaped.
 5. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said slots in said pair of rear standards are substantially C-shaped.
 6. Refrigerator shelf mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which each one of said pair of front standards comprises a longitudinally extending leg having said mounting means therein, and a rearwardly extending member integral with said longitudinally extending member and having said plurality of notches therein.
 7. Refrigerator shelf mounting means as in claim 1, in which each one of said pair of rear standards comprises a longitudinally extending leg having said mounting means therein, and a forwardly extending member having said slots therein.
 8. A refrigerator comprising a housing having a front wall, a rear wall and opposed side walls, at least a first shelf mounting standard extending outwardly from one of said walls, at least a second standard extending outwardly from another wall opposite said one wall, said first standard having a plurality of vertically spaced notches opening toward said second standard and each notch having an upstanding lip to prevent lateral Removal of a member received in said notch, said second standard having a plurality of vertically spaced slots therein opening toward said first standard, and at least a shelf adapted to be supported by said first and second standards, said slots being sized and positioned to receive said shelf therein and permit movement of said shelf a sufficient distance to space said shelf from said first standard, and to support said shelf when said shelf is received in a notch in said first standard.
 9. A refrigerator as in claim 8, in which said notches are in one to one correspondence with said slots, and said first and second standards comprise mounting means for movably mounting the respective standards on the respective walls to permit alignment of said notches and slots.
 10. A refrigerator as in claim 8, in which a spaced pair of first standards are mounted on said one wall and a spaced pair of second standards are mounted on said second wall, each one of said first pair of standards is in facing relationship to a different one of said second pair of standards.
 11. A refrigerator as in claim 9, in which said notches are C-shaped.
 12. A refrigerator as in claim 9, in which said slots are C-shaped.
 13. A refrigerator as in claim 9, in which said shelf comprises a circumferential rail, and a plurality of rods extending between and connected to opposed portions of said rail, said first and second pairs of standards receiving opposite sides of said rail to support said shelf.
 14. A refrigerator as in claim 13, in which said front wall is provided with a door opening, said one wall comprising said front wall and each one of said pair of first standards is mounted adjacent a different edge of said door opening, said notches extending rearwardly from said front wall, said other wall comprising said rear wall of said refrigerator whereby the slots in said second pair of standards extend forwardly. 